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Farewell, Alex: conceited, boomer (cartoon) banker

Farewell, Alex: conceited, boomer (cartoon) banker

London | In October 1986, then-UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher launched her 'Big Bang' deregulation of the British economy. This propelled London, and the world, into a new era of financial sophistication – one in which traders, bankers and brokers were the new masters of the universe.
As money began to slosh through the City of London, a new social category emerged from the wash: the yuppie. Conceited, materialistic and hedonistic, this breed was ripe for satire. Sure enough, it wasn't long before the City's denizens had their own caricaturists and chroniclers: Russell Taylor and Charles Peattie, the writer and illustrator of the Alex cartoon.

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AUKUS in doubt as US starts review into whether the deal is ‘America First'
AUKUS in doubt as US starts review into whether the deal is ‘America First'

Sydney Morning Herald

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AUKUS in doubt as US starts review into whether the deal is ‘America First'

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AUKUS in doubt as US starts review into whether the deal is ‘America First'
AUKUS in doubt as US starts review into whether the deal is ‘America First'

The Age

time2 hours ago

  • The Age

AUKUS in doubt as US starts review into whether the deal is ‘America First'

However, Colby expressed more optimism about AUKUS at his confirmation hearing earlier this year, saying he wanted to remove red tape and barriers to submarine production so that the partnership could be expedited. News of the review comes just days before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expects to meet Trump on the sidelines of the G7 world leaders' summit in Canada. But on Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president's schedule for those G7 meetings was still being finalised. Albanese's office has been contacted for comment, as was Australia's embassy in Washington, which referred questions to Canberra. At a meeting with Defence Minister Richard Marles at the start of his month, Hegseth urged Australia to lift defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP – a request reiterated by Colby on social media this week. Several AUKUS experts urged caution in interpreting the intent of the US review. They pointed to the fact the United Kingdom recently commenced a parliamentary inquiry into the pact, and said it was natural that the Trump administration would seek to ensure AUKUS aligned with its own priorities. The review also comes just weeks after the new US ambassador to Britain, Republican donor Warren Stephens, told a London audience that AUKUS was 'vital' to global peace and security. Under the first pillar of the pact, Australia will purchase three to five nuclear-powered submarines from the US, starting in the 2030s, and build more through a joint initiative with the US and UK. Under the second pillar, the three nations will collaborate on advanced defence technologies. Australia is also contributing at least $US3 billion to the US defence industrial base to shore up submarine production. The deal was announced in 2021 under then prime minister Scott Morrison and then US president Joe Biden. Sophia Gaston, UK foreign policy lead at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in London, said the British inquiry had 'injected new dynamism and political edge into the UK's approach', which was helpful in taking AUKUS forward under Trump. Loading She said it was perfectly reasonable for the new administration to conduct a review into a project as large and significant as AUKUS. 'We can never be certain of where another government's review will take them, but Britain and Australia must be confident in the rationale behind AUKUS and its alignment with America's core goals of deterrence and competition towards China,' Gaston said. 'The best thing both allies can do during this review process is to put themselves in a posture ready to deliver some quick wins, particularly on pillar two, which will demonstrate the value in America partnering with allies to amplify its strengths in both scale and innovation.' Alessio Patalano, a professor of war and strategy in East Asia at King's College London, said Colby's views on AUKUS before he joined the current administration would likely inform how AUKUS advocates perceived this review. Loading 'However, these views are now being channelled into a government effort to 'audit' how AUKUS advances the US economy and security,' he said. 'As such, the review represents an opportunity to assess whether the current governance structure and priorities would benefit from greater focus.' Supporters argue the pact is a strategic bulwark in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region, though critics warn that delays and shifting political dynamics could undermine its success. But British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last month declared the AUKUS defence pact the centrepiece of his government's national security strategy, promising the UK's largest military investment since the Cold War. At a high-level event in Westminster, Starmer described AUKUS as a 'national endeavour' and named former national security adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove as his special representative to lead the project.

EU and UK reach agreement on Gibraltar status
EU and UK reach agreement on Gibraltar status

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time4 hours ago

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The European Union and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement on the status of Gibraltar, according to a joint declaration between the parties. The status of Gibraltar - an enclave at the southern tip of Spain that has been under British rule since the 18th century - and how to police the border with Spain have been points of contention since the UK voted in 2016 to leave the EU. The UK foreign office said in a statement the agreement would protect UK sovereignty and its military autonomy as well as Gibraltar's economic future. The foreign office also said the agreement, among other benefits, would provide a practical solution to avoid the need for what it described as "onerous checks" and long delays at the border. "I'm delighted we have finalised a conclusive political agreement which will bring legal certainty to the people of Gibraltar, its businesses and to those across the region who rely on stability at the frontier," said Fabian Picardo, the chief minister of Gibraltar. The UK agreed to a fluid border between Gibraltar and Spain that will not require checks on people crossing, the UK government said, clearing the way to finalise a deal with the EU. There will be dual border control checks for arrivals by air at Gibraltar airport, carried out by Gibraltar and Spanish officials. Spanish officials will take responsibility for the Schengen Area in a model that mirrors French police operating in London'a St Pancras station. with PA The European Union and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement on the status of Gibraltar, according to a joint declaration between the parties. The status of Gibraltar - an enclave at the southern tip of Spain that has been under British rule since the 18th century - and how to police the border with Spain have been points of contention since the UK voted in 2016 to leave the EU. The UK foreign office said in a statement the agreement would protect UK sovereignty and its military autonomy as well as Gibraltar's economic future. The foreign office also said the agreement, among other benefits, would provide a practical solution to avoid the need for what it described as "onerous checks" and long delays at the border. "I'm delighted we have finalised a conclusive political agreement which will bring legal certainty to the people of Gibraltar, its businesses and to those across the region who rely on stability at the frontier," said Fabian Picardo, the chief minister of Gibraltar. The UK agreed to a fluid border between Gibraltar and Spain that will not require checks on people crossing, the UK government said, clearing the way to finalise a deal with the EU. There will be dual border control checks for arrivals by air at Gibraltar airport, carried out by Gibraltar and Spanish officials. Spanish officials will take responsibility for the Schengen Area in a model that mirrors French police operating in London'a St Pancras station. with PA The European Union and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement on the status of Gibraltar, according to a joint declaration between the parties. The status of Gibraltar - an enclave at the southern tip of Spain that has been under British rule since the 18th century - and how to police the border with Spain have been points of contention since the UK voted in 2016 to leave the EU. The UK foreign office said in a statement the agreement would protect UK sovereignty and its military autonomy as well as Gibraltar's economic future. The foreign office also said the agreement, among other benefits, would provide a practical solution to avoid the need for what it described as "onerous checks" and long delays at the border. "I'm delighted we have finalised a conclusive political agreement which will bring legal certainty to the people of Gibraltar, its businesses and to those across the region who rely on stability at the frontier," said Fabian Picardo, the chief minister of Gibraltar. The UK agreed to a fluid border between Gibraltar and Spain that will not require checks on people crossing, the UK government said, clearing the way to finalise a deal with the EU. There will be dual border control checks for arrivals by air at Gibraltar airport, carried out by Gibraltar and Spanish officials. Spanish officials will take responsibility for the Schengen Area in a model that mirrors French police operating in London'a St Pancras station. with PA The European Union and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement on the status of Gibraltar, according to a joint declaration between the parties. The status of Gibraltar - an enclave at the southern tip of Spain that has been under British rule since the 18th century - and how to police the border with Spain have been points of contention since the UK voted in 2016 to leave the EU. The UK foreign office said in a statement the agreement would protect UK sovereignty and its military autonomy as well as Gibraltar's economic future. The foreign office also said the agreement, among other benefits, would provide a practical solution to avoid the need for what it described as "onerous checks" and long delays at the border. "I'm delighted we have finalised a conclusive political agreement which will bring legal certainty to the people of Gibraltar, its businesses and to those across the region who rely on stability at the frontier," said Fabian Picardo, the chief minister of Gibraltar. The UK agreed to a fluid border between Gibraltar and Spain that will not require checks on people crossing, the UK government said, clearing the way to finalise a deal with the EU. There will be dual border control checks for arrivals by air at Gibraltar airport, carried out by Gibraltar and Spanish officials. Spanish officials will take responsibility for the Schengen Area in a model that mirrors French police operating in London'a St Pancras station. with PA

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